U.S. patent application number 10/580501 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for system for displaying images with multiple attributes.
This patent application is currently assigned to Koninklijke Phillips Electronics N.V.. Invention is credited to Petrus Christianus Franciscus Maas.
Application Number | 20070130515 10/580501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34626424 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070130515 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maas; Petrus Christianus
Franciscus |
June 7, 2007 |
System for displaying images with multiple attributes
Abstract
A system (30) for displaying a subset of images from an image
data set, in particular for medical applications such as MRI or CT
scanning. The images are associated with three attributes with a
respective range of values. The images on the display have values
within a subrange of the respective range of values for two
attributes and a value for the third attribute. The images are
shown in a matrix. Each row of the matrix represents one value for
the first attribute. Each column represents a value for the second
attribute. All images on the display 34 have the same value for the
third attribute. A user is enabled to scroll through the image data
set by selecting other subranges for the first two attributes or by
selecting another value for the third attribute of the images to
display. The selecting of subranges is done by scrolling horizontal
and vertical for the first and second attributes. The selecting of
another value for a third attribute is done by scrolling
substantially parallel to an imaginary z-axis.
Inventors: |
Maas; Petrus Christianus
Franciscus; (Eindhoven, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS
P.O. BOX 3001
BRIARCLIFF MANOR
NY
10510
US
|
Assignee: |
Koninklijke Phillips Electronics
N.V.
|
Family ID: |
34626424 |
Appl. No.: |
10/580501 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 16, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB04/52442 |
371 Date: |
May 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T 2200/24 20130101;
G06T 19/00 20130101; G06F 3/04847 20130101; G06T 2210/41
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/526 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00; G06F 15/00 20060101 G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2003 |
EP |
03104441.5 |
Claims
1. A system (30) for displaying a user selectable subset of images
(3) from an image data set, in particular for medical applications,
the images (3) being at least two-dimensional and being associated
with a set of at least one attribute with a respective range of
values and an additional attribute with a range of values, the
system comprising: an input (35) for receiving the image data set;
a memory (39) for storing the image data set; an interface for
receiving instructions from a user, the interface comprising a
manipulation unit (37,38); a processor (36) for, under control of a
computer program, enabling a user to select a respective subrange
of the range of values by scrolling substantially parallel to a
horizontal x-axis or a vertical y-axis of a display via the
manipulation unit (37, 38); enabling a user to select a value for
the additional attribute by scrolling substantially parallel to an
imaginary z-axis via the manipulation unit (37, 38); determining
the subset, by selecting images (3) which for the at least one
attribute of the set have values in the respective subrange and
which also have the value for the additional attribute; generating
a view of the subset of images (3); and an output (33) for
providing pixel values of the view for rendering on a display
(34).
2. A system (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulation
unit comprises a pointer device (38) and the imaginary z-axis is
being realized in a line extending between the x-axis and the
y-axis.
3. A system (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mouse pointer is
provided for providing visual feedback during selection of the
subranges or the value of the additional attribute.
4. A system(30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an indicator is
provided for indicating along which of the three axes scrolling is
possible.
5. A system (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a configuration
dialog (100) is provided for configuring which attributes are
represented by each of the three axes.
6. A system (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor (36)
is arranged for, under control of the computer program, changing
the subset by periodically increasing or decreasing the value of an
attribute of the set or the value of the additional attribute; and
changing the view according to the changed subset.
7. A system (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor (36)
is arranged for, under control of the computer program,
periodically increasing or decreasing a value of a further
attribute of each image (3), said value not being selectable by
scrolling substantially parallel to one of the three axes; and
changing the view according to the changed value.
8. A method for displaying a user selectable subset of images (3)
from an image data set, in particular for medical applications, the
images (3) being at least two-dimensional and being associated with
a set of at least one attribute with a respective range of values
and an additional attribute with a range of values, the method
comprising: receiving and storing the image data set; enabling a
user to select a subrange of the respective range of values by
scrolling substantially parallel to a horizontal x-axis or a
vertical y-axis of a display via a manipulation unit (37,38);
enabling a user to select a value for the additional attribute by
scrolling substantially parallel to an imaginary z-axis via the
manipulation unit; determining the subset, by selecting images (3)
which for the at least one attribute of the set have values in the
respective subrange and which also have the value for the
additional attribute; generating a view of the subset of images;
and providing pixel values of the view for rendering on a display
(30).
9. A computer program product operative to cause a processor to
perform the method of claim 8.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a system for displaying a user
selectable subset of images from an image data set, in particular
for medical applications, the images being at least two-dimensional
and being associated with a set of at least one attribute with a
respective range of values. The invention also relates to software
for use in such systems. The invention also relates to a method for
displaying a user selectable subset of images from an image data
set.
[0002] In medical imaging systems, a user has access to complex
image data sets, the images being at least two dimensional
(hereinafter "2D"). Each data set contains multiple images with one
or more attributes. In the case of Magnetic Resonance (hereinafter
"MR") images, possible attributes are: type, echo, stack, slice,
phase, dynamic, chemical shift and diffusion direction. Slices, for
example, are images of spatially successive cross sections of an
inspected object, e.g. a brain or a heart. Phases are chronological
successive images of one cross section of the inspected object. An
MR image data set comprises images with a respective range of
values for at least one attribute. Often two, three or even more
attributes have a respective range of values. Viewing such image
data sets is typically done by displaying the images in a viewing
plane. A viewing plane is a 2D matrix of viewports wherein each
viewport shows one image. The columns and rows of a viewing plane
are each associated with an image attribute. The number of columns
and rows in a viewing plane is equal to (the number of values in)
the range of the associated attribute. A display shows part of the
viewing plane, which part is called the viewport area An example of
a 2D viewport area is shown in FIG. 1. The images in the viewport
area 2 have values for the attributes associated with the columns
and rows, which values are in a subrange of the range of values for
the respective attributes. The images 3 in the image data set shown
in FIG. 1 are associated with two attributes (Att.1 and Att.2). The
range of both attributes is 1-20. The viewing plane 1 is a 20 by 20
matrix. In this matrix a row comprises images 3 with a constant
value for Att.1 and different values for Att.2. A column comprises
images 3 with a constant value for Att.2 and different values for
Att.1. On the display only part of the viewing plane 1, the
viewport area 2, is shown. Only images 3 with values in the
subrange 4-6 for Att.1 and with values in the subrange 1-3 for
Att.2 are visible. Navigation enables a user to view the other
images 3 in the viewport Navigation through the image set is done
by scrolling the viewing plane 1 along columns or rows. Scrolling
columns or rows corresponds to selecting the subrange of the range
of values for the respective attributes and thus changing the
visible part of the viewing plane 1. Scrolling columns or rows is
usually done by respectively moving a pointer device, such as a
mouse or joystick, substantially parallel to a horizontal x-axis or
a vertical y-axis of a display. Scrolling is often done by means of
Direct Mouse Manipulation (hereinafter "DMM"), which is Moving a
mouse over the image in the desired scroll direction, possibly
while holding down one of the mouse buttons. Sometimes a user would
prefer to see images with values in a larger subrange of the range
of values for an attribute. In this event the viewing plane is a
one dimensional (hereinafter "1D") row of viewports wherein each
viewport shows one image. On the display the images in the 1D
viewport area are placed in a 2D matrix. An example of such a
matrix is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 the same image data set is
used as in FIG. 1. The viewing plane 1 now is a row with 20 images.
All images 3 have the same value for Att.2 but different values for
Att.1. The viewport area 2 comprises nine images 3 with values in
the subrange 4-12 for At.1. For simultaneously showing nine images
3 the viewing plane 1 is folded into a 3 by 3 matrix. In a 1D
viewport area 2 scrolling is possible in only one direction
(horizontal in FIG. 2).
[0003] Often it is desired to navigate through the image set by
changing the values of three attributes of the visible images when
a 2D viewport area is shown on the display. For example when the
rows are associated with different slices and the columns with
different echoes, a user may want to change the stack of images.
Echoes are images of the same cross section, but with different
contrast. In one echo, for example, fluid appears brighter while in
another echo bones appear brighter. Images from different stacks
show different structures (e.g. a left and a right knee). Scrolling
columns and rows is used for changing the value of the first and
second attribute. It is more difficult to change the value of the
third attribute. For changing the value of the third attribute,
special keys on the keyboard or an interactive dialog are used. In
the event of a 1D viewport area, presented in a 2D matrix, the
keyboard or the dialog are used for navigating through the images
with different values for a second attribute. The use of the
keyboard or the dialog, is a disturbing action for a physician
examining the results of a MRI scan.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved user
interface for enabling easy navigation through a set of images.
[0005] With the system of the invention, this object is realized in
that a value of an additional attribute is selectable by scrolling
substantially parallel to an imaginary z-axis. Scrolling columns or
rows corresponds to changing the visible part of a viewing plane.
Scrolling in the z-direction will move the entire viewport area
back and forth through a pile of viewing plane layers. When the
z-axis is, for example, associated with the stack attribute,
scrolling in the z-direction will result in display of images of
another structure.
[0006] If the imaginary z-axis is being realized in a line
extending between the x-axis and the y-axis, scrolling in the
z-direction is made intuitively. Additional intuitive visual
feedback may be given by providing a mouse pointer, showing the
scroll direction, during scrolling.
[0007] A configuration dialog is provided, for enabling a user to
configure which attributes are represented by each of the three
axes. Intuitive visual feedback is given by using the same cross
axis to represent the possible scrolling directions.
[0008] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from
and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described
hereinafter.
IN THE DRAWINGS:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a 2D viewport
area;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a 1D viewport
area;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a system according to the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a display window according to the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of multiple layers
of 2D viewing planes according to the invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the conversion
from 2D scrolling directions to 3D navigation;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of multiple layers
of a 1D viewport area according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of multiple layers
of a 2D wrapped viewport area according to the invention;
[0017] FIG. 9 A-F shows six arrangements for a scrollable
directions indicator;
[0018] FIG. 10 shows a configurations tab for 2D viewport areas of
the configuration dialog according to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows a configurations tab for 1D nested viewport
areas;
[0020] The system for displaying a user selectable subset of images
and a method for doing so will be described for medical
applications. It will be appreciated that the system and method can
also be applied to other applications as well, in general for
inspection of the structure of all objects which can be measured
with a system, characterized by the fact that processing of the
measurements results in an image data set in which the images are
associated with a set of attributes.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a system according to the
invention. The system may be implemented on a conventional computer
system such as a workstation or high performance personal computer.
The system 30 comprises an input 35 for receiving an image data
set. The image data set may be supplied via a conventional computer
network, such as Ethernet, or telecommunications network, either
wired or wireless, or combinations thereof, or via computer
peripherals for reading common information carriers for magnetic or
optical recording such as tapes, CD's, DVD's and the like,
including solid state memories, such as flash memory. In FIG. 3 the
image data set is acquired by an image acquisition device 31, such
as a medical Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner or a Computed
Tomography (CT) scanner. Such acquisition device may be part of the
system 30, but may also be external to the system 30. The images in
the data set may be 2D or 3D. The system 30 includes a storage 39
for storing the image data set. Preferably the storage 39 is of
permanent type, such as a hard disk. An output 33 of the system is
used for providing pixel values for rendering. The output 33 may
supply the pixel values, for example as a bitmapped image through a
network to another computer system for display. Alternatively, the
output 33 may include a graphics card/chip set for direct rendering
of the images on a suitable display 34. The display 34 may, but
need not be part of the system 30. A user may control the system 30
via an interface, comprising a manipulation unit such as a keyboard
37 and a mouse 38. Also other suitable means, such as a track ball,
joystick or touch pad may be used. The system 30 further includes a
processor 36 for, under control of a computer program, processing
the image data set to obtain representations of the viewport area
for rendering. The program may be loaded from a permanent storage,
such as storage 39, into a working memory 32, such as RAM for
execution. In the example, the same memory 32 may be used for
storing the image data from the storage 39 during execution. If the
image data set is too large to be fully stored in the memory 32,
the storage 39 may act as a virtual memory.
[0022] According to the invention, the processor 36 is operative to
determine the subset of images to include in the viewport area. The
subset comprises images which for one or two attributes have values
in a respective subrange of the range of values. Said subranges are
determined depending on, for example, the display mode, default
settings and configuration and navigation by the user. The
arrangement of the images of the subset in the viewport area also
depends on the display mode, default settings and configuration by
the user. Some examples of display modes and navigation methods are
described referring to FIG. 4-9. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show examples
of configuration dialogs, which enable a user to configure display
and navigation modes.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a display window according to the invention.
The display window 41 comprises a caption 42, window controls 43, a
toolbar 44 and program controls 45. The display window also
comprises the viewport area 2. The viewport area is an n by m
matrix with viewports where n and m are both integers greater than
or equal to one. The smallest possible viewport area thus is a 1 by
1 matrix. Each viewport shows one image 3 or, preferably, a user
selectable part of an image. In particular the images are for
medical applications. The images may, for example, be MR images, CT
scans or spectroscopic graphs. When no image 3 is available for a
viewport in the viewport area 2, the viewport is, for example,
completely black, shows a predetermined pattern or comprises an
error message. Said error message may comprise information about
the attribute values of the image that is not available.
[0024] The caption 42 may show relevant information about the
displayed images 3 and it may identify which display mode is used.
The caption 42 may also display the name of the image data set from
which the images 3 are shown. The window controls 43 are part of a
default window view and may comprise controls for showing or hiding
the toolbar 44, maximizing or minimizing the display window 41 and
closing the display window 41. The program controls 45 are situated
on the toolbar 44. Program controls may for example be used for
opening, closing or saving (part of) an image data set, editing
images, setting display options, zooming or calling configuration
dialogs. Controls for adding columns or rows to the viewport area
or removing columns or rows from the viewport area may also be
present. Another program control may enable the user to easily
switch between a one viewport view and the viewport area view. The
image 3 comprises a visual representation of the image data for a
cross section. The image may also comprise information about its
attribute values. The upper right image in the viewport area 2, for
example, has the attribute values slice: 1, phase: 3 and dynamics:
1. Other image specific information like, for example, time and
date of acquisition may be included. Alternatively the display
window 41 is substituted by a full screen representation. Said full
screen representation may, for example, also comprise the program
controls 45 and a control for enabling the user to switch from the
fill screen representation to a representation in the display
window 41. However navigation is preferably done by means of Direct
Mouse Manipulation (DMM), in both the display window and the full
screen representation scrollbars may be provided for enabling
navigation through the viewing plane.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of multiple layers
of 2D viewing planes according to the invention. The front layer 4
is a 2D viewing plane. Part of this area, the viewport area 2, is
visible on the display. The 2D viewport area 2 comprises viewports
with images 3. The x-axis and y-axis are each associated with a
respective first and second attribute. Behind the front layer 4 are
other layers 5 with viewing planes. In each layer the third
attribute, associated with the z-axis, has a different value. The
number of layers equals the number of values in the associated
attribute. Only one layer comprises a viewport area 2, which is
visible on the display.
[0026] For example, the x-axis is associated with echoes, the
y-axis with slices and the z-axis with types. In this example, all
images in one column of viewing plane 4 have the same value for
echo, all images in one row have the same value for slice and all
images in one layer have the same value for type. The images in the
viewport area 2 have values in subranges of the ranges of values
for echo and slice and all have the same value for type. The
subranges for echo and slice and the value for type are user
selectable. Selecting larger subranges results in more, smaller
images on the display. Selecting smaller subranges results in less,
larger images on the display. When a subrange is equal to the
respective range, the images with all different values for the
respective attribute are shown. When a upper or lower limit of the
subrange is equal to the upper or lower limit of the respective
range, scrolling is prohibited in the direction of the respective
limit When, for example, an attribute has a range [1,20] and one
row of the viewport area shows images with a value in the subrange
[1,3], only scrolling to the right is possible, resulting in the
selection of the new subrange [2,4]. Alternative scrolling methods
are foreseen. For example, increasing or decreasing subrange limits
in steps of two or more will result in faster scrolling. The steps
for increasing or decreasing subrange limits may also be variable.
For example, when scrolling is started accurate scrolling is
possible with small steps and if scrolling is maintained the steps
are extended for enabling faster scrolling. Other scrolling methods
are well known in the art of programming.
[0027] Navigating through the image data set is preferably done by
means of DMM. Mouse movements in predetermined directions initiate
adjustments to the subranges or to the selected value for the third
attribute. During navigation the viewport area moves through the
viewing plane or from one layer to another, depending on the
direction of the mouse movement. In FIG. 6 the relation between
direction of movement of the viewport area and direction of
movement of the mouse is schematically shown. Moving the mouse to
the right substantially parallel to the x-axis, increases the
border values of the subrange. When the direction of the mouse
movement lies in area R of FIG. 6, the viewport area moves to the
right in the viewing plane. Moving the viewport area to the right
is realized by increasing the borders of the subrange of the range
of values for the attribute associated with the x-axis.
[0028] When for example the x-axis is associated with the attribute
echo and the selected subrange is [2,4], a mouse movement with the
direction in area R will first change the subrange to [3,5], then
to [4,6], etcetera Moving the mouse to the left, with the direction
in area L, will move the viewport area to the left in a similar
way. Area U and area D, with directions substantially parallel to
the y-axes, will result in moving the viewing respectively up and
down. When the y-axis is associated with the attribute slice,
moving the mouse up and down results in images with other values
for the attribute slice to be visible on the display. The value for
the third attribute may be changed in a similar way. An imaginary
z-axis is realized in a line extending between the x-axis and the
y-axis. Moving the mouse substantially parallel to the z-axis
results in a changed value for the third attribute. All movements
with a direction in the areas F and B are regarded substantially
parallel to the z-axis. When the direction of the mouse movement is
in area F the value of the third attribute is increased. When the
direction of the mouse movement is in area B the value of the third
attribute is decreased.
[0029] The six areas, R, F, U, L, B and D in FIG. 6 each cover a
part of all possible directions between -180.degree. and
180.degree.. When we define the x-axis to have a direction of
0.degree., the area R comprises all directions between, for
example, -15.degree. and 15.degree.. The range of directions
covered by each area may be a default value, in the above example
30.degree., or may be configured by the user. The y-axis has a
direction of 90.degree. and the z-axis extends between the x-axis
and the y-axes. The z-axis may have a direction of 30.degree.,
45.degree. or any other direction between 0.degree. and 90.degree..
The direction of the z-axis may be a default value, or may be
configured by the user. The direction of the z-axis and the range
of directions covered by each area have to be defined such that no
area overlaps another area. Areas may be adjacent or a no scrolling
area may exist between two areas. When a mouse movement has a
direction, which is not covered by any area, an already initiated
navigation direction may be preserved or no navigation may occur at
all. Additional intuitive visual feedback may be given by providing
a mouse pointer, showing the scroll direction, during
scrolling.
[0030] In an embodiment an auto-scroll mode is provided. Such an
auto-scroll mode may be realized in that the value of a
predetermined attribute of each image is automatically increased or
decreased periodically. When the auto-scroll mode is activated the
display shows a slide show of all images with a different value for
said predetermined attribute. Attributes associated with each of
the three axes may be used for auto-scrolling.
[0031] When the upper bound value and the lower bound value of a
subrange are increased simultaneously the viewport area simply
moves through the viewing plane. In a special zoom mode only one of
the two border values is changed. This zoom mode may, for example,
be activated by holding down a mouse button, or pressing a key on
the keyboard while moving the mouse. Alternatively a program
control (45 in FIG. 4) may be used for activating the zoom mode.
When this zoom mode is activated, moving the mouse to the right,
substantially parallel to the x-axis will result in adding a column
to the right side of the viewport area. Moving the mouse to the
left will result in deleting a column. In a similar way rows may be
added or deleted by moving the mouse respectively up or down.
[0032] The display mode in FIG. 6 is called a 2D view. The value of
a third attribute can be selected by means of DMM because of the
introduction of an imaginary z-axis. FIG. 7 shows an example of a
1D view according to the invention. In this event the viewing plane
is a 1D row of viewports wherein each viewport shows one image. On
the display the images in the 1D viewport area are placed in a 2D
matrix. Navigating through images with different values for the
attribute associated with the x-axis is described in the
introduction. The introduction of an imaginary z-axis enables a
user to select the value of a second attribute by means of DMM.
[0033] The display mode used in the schematic representation of
FIG. 8 is called 2D wrapped. This display mode is particularly
useful when the range of one attribute is relatively small. In FIG.
8 the attribute associated with the x-axis has a range with only
five values. The viewport area 2 is a four by three matrix. All
images on the first row of the viewport area have the same value
for the second and third attribute, associated with respectively
the y-axis and the z-axis. There are just five images with these
values for the second and third attribute. The first three of these
five images are shown on the first row of the viewport area In the
normal 2D display mode as showed in FIG. 6, the other two images
can be made visible by moving the mouse to the right In the 2D
wrapped display mode these two pictures are placed in the first and
second viewport of the second row. The third viewport of the second
row 6, does not comprise any picture. This viewport is, for
example, completely black or shows some predetermined pattern. The
third and fourth row of the viewport area 2 comprise the five
images with a value for the second attribute that is one higher
than in the first and second row and the same value for the third
attribute. Navigating through the images with different values for
the third attribute is done by scrolling substantially parallel to
the imaginary z-axis.
[0034] The availability of scrolling directions depends on the
display mode and the number of attributes with a range greater than
the subrange shown on the display. In order to make it visible in
which of the three directions scrolling is possible, the indicators
of FIG. 9A-F may be shown on the display. The indicator of FIG. 9A
is used when no scrolling is possible at all. This indicator is
shown when the images with all values for the attributes associated
with the axes are enclosed in the viewport area. When scrolling is
possible in the x-direction or the y-direction, FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C
are used. The indicators of FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C are used with the
1D display mode, when no attribute is associated with the imaginary
z-axis. The indicator of FIG. 9D is used with the 2D display mode,
when no attribute is associated with the imaginary z-axis. When an
attribute with a range greater than 1 is associated with the z-axis
the indicator of FIG. 9E is used with the 1D display mode and the
indicator of FIG. 9F is used with the 2D display mode.
[0035] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a configuration dialog 100 for the
system according to the invention. The dialog 100 is provided in a
window, but may also be provided full screen. The dialog 100
enables the user to configure the display of and navigation through
the images of the data set. The configuration dialog 100 comprises
different tabs 101, 102, 103 for ordering all options in such a way
that a user can easily find the option he wants to set. The dialog
100 further comprises a default button 108 for applying default
settings to the visible tab of the dialog 100. The default settings
may, for example, be applied for all options on one tab or for some
options on one or more tabs, depending on the value of another
option on the active tab. The default settings may be provided by
the manufacturer of the system or may be set and stored by the
user. The dialog 100 also comprises a close button 109 for applying
the settings and closing the configuration dialog 100.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows a display settings tab 101 for setting the
display options. A display mode control 105 enables a user to
choose a display mode, e.g. 2D, 2D wrapped or 1D. The display mode
control 105 preferably is a drop down list, comprising all possible
display modes. The other controls on the display settings tab
depend on the display mode. In FIG. 10 the display mode is 2D. When
in 2D display mode a cross axis is provided on the display settings
tab 101. The three axes of the cross axis correspond with the x-,
y- and z-direction in the viewport area. Near each of the three
axes an attribute control 104 is provided, for enabling a user to
select which attribute is associated with which axis. In FIG. 10
the x-axis is associated with echoes, the y-axis with slices and
the z-axis with types. The attribute control 104 preferably is a
drop down list with all attributes with a range comprising at least
two values and which are not already associated with another axis.
Alternatively, when an attribute is selected, which is already
associated with another axis, both attributes interchange their
positions. In some display modes a further attribute may be
selected using the movie attribute control 106. In the viewport
area the value for the selected movie attribute is periodically
increased or decreased. When for example phase is selected as a
movie attribute, each viewport shows the changes of a fixed cross
section in time, resulting in an ordinary movie of the cross
section. When slices is selected as a movie attribute, each
viewport will show a movie of a tour through the inspected object.
The attributes phase and slice are particularly suited for using as
a movie attribute, but also other attributes may be selected as a
movie attribute. The movie attribute control 106 preferably is a
drop down list, comprising attributes and an option `none`. When
the option `none` is selected no movie is played at all and movie
type control 107 is inactive or even removed from the dialog. When
the option `none` is not selected a movie type control 107 enables
a user to choose a playing mode for the movie, e.g. cyclic, play
once, play twice or backward.
[0037] The display settings tab 101 for the 2D wrapped and 1D
display mode are similar to the display settings tab 101 shown in
FIG. 10. In 1D display mode, only two axes are associated with an
attribute. When a `none` option is added to the options in the drop
down list of attribute control 104, the user may choose which axis
not to use for navigation when in 1D view. In another embodiment a
first attribute is by default associated with the x-axis, a second
and third attribute, if available, are by default associated with
respectively the y-axis and the z-axis.
[0038] Another display mode is the 1D nested display mode. In this
display mode all available images are placed in a viewing plane
with one row. The images are placed in the viewing plane according
to a sorting order. FIG. 11 shows the display settings tab 101 for
the 1D nested display mode. This tab comprises a sorting order list
112 with all available attributes. Only attributes with a range of
at least two values can be used for sorting. Attributes, which can
be used for sorting, are displayed in e.g. a black font color.
Other attributes are displayed in e.g. a gray font color. In FIG.
11 the current sorting order is type, echo, phase, slice. The
attribute phase is highlighted. An attribute can be highlighted by
clicking on it in the sort order list 112. The sort order buttons
111 are used for moving the highlighted attribute through the list.
When in FIG. 11, for example, the `Up` button would be pressed, the
new sort order would become type, phase, echo, slice. It should be
mentioned that the above mentioned embodiments illustrate rather
than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be
able to design many alternative embodiments without depending from
the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference
signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting
the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not
exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated
in a claim. The article "a" or "an", preceding an element does not
exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention
may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct
elements, an by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the
device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may
be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact
that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent
claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures
cannot be used to advantage.
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